The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1887-09-22

of constitutional liberty and equal
rights, so-called, is getting to be as
remarkable for millionaires and an
impoverished people as any Of the
monarchies of Europe. No man in
the possession of reason would argue,
for a moment, that all men should
have the same. Such a condition as
that could not exist in the very nature
of things, because all men do not have
the same advantages, and do not exer-
else the same energy, judgment and
economy in the management of their
private affairs, and, therefore, there
will, of necessity, be a great difference
in the condition of men nevertheless,
this government, both State and Ma
tional, should be SO administered, and
there should exist such a relationship
among the various occupations of men
as to establish as perfect equilibrium
as possible. [ entertain no disposition
whatever to build up one occupation
to the oppression of another on the
contrary, [ very heartily believe that
if a proper relationship could be sus
tanned between the several pursuits of
life, that they would then prove highly
beneficial to each other, and thus ac7
complish the evident design of Prov
dence in diversifying the industries Of
mankind. But when W. consider how
rapidly merchants and men engaged
in speculation have accumulated i'm
mense fortunes, with comparatively
little effort, and when we take into
consideration the fact that the farm
ers, Notwithstanding they have labored
assiduously, year in and year out,
exercising at the same time the most
rigid economy, we are forced inevita-
bly, to the conclusion that such rela-
tionship does not exist, and that the
farmers have had the grossestinjustice
done them. That government is most
prosperous in which there is as great
a distribution of wealth as can possibly
exist under natural and just laws.
1t is far better for the general pros
perity of the country that a thousand
men should be worth 81, 200, 900 than
for one man to own the million dol
lars and 999 have nothing. There isno
well-founded reason why a merchant,
in a few years, should amass $40, 900,
while at the same time, a hundred
farmers to whom he has sold goods at
an exorbitant profit, should grow so
poor that life is a burden. The time
was when it took long years of toll,
and a judicious management of bust
ness, for men to accumulate great for
tunes but it has been nothing un-
common since the close of the late war
for merchants and men engaged in
pursuits of speculation to make in a
few years fortunes hat are simply
astonishing. The influence Of men
possessing great wealth, in shaping
legislation to their interest, is one of
the greatest dangers that threatens
this government. 1t is too frequently
the case that they bring their money
to bear upon legislative bodies in &C
complishing their purposes, and thus
the will and interest of the people are
utterly disregarded.
1t will be one of the objects of the
Alliance-indeed the main object-to
counteract as far as possible this ten
dency to Capitalization and monopoly.
[ desire now to call attention to
some of the benefits that may, in fact
will, arise from the Alliance if we are
true to ourselves and to the grand
principles of our noble order.
In the first place, notice the social
and intellectual advantages that will
result. 1t is a we'll known fact that
farmers as a class see and know too
little of each other. They do not en-
joy that social intercourse, and there
is not that mutual sympathy existing
among them that we observe in other
~avocations of life. They do not as
semble as often as they should and
discuss matters and interchange opin-
ions upon such subjects that concern
them and their interest. We are en-
tirely too much inclined to stay at
home too closely and take no interest
in u neighbours welfare.
But in my opinion one of the great
est blessings that will grow out of the
| Alliance will be of an intellectual
nature. The discussions that we will
have from time to time in our meet
ings will have a wonderful effect in
stimulating and making more active
the mind. The training of the mental
faculties has been too much neglected
nv those ancapa1 in Agricultural mr.